斬釘截鐵 zhǎn dīng jié tiě

fig. resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. resolute and decisive
  2. 2. unhesitating
  3. 3. categorical
  4. 4. lit. to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
斬 zhǎn
to chop; to behead (as form of capital punishment)
釘 dīng
nail; variant of 盯dīng; to follow closely
截 jié HSK 6
to cut off (a length); to stop; section
鐵 tiě
iron (metal); hard; strong